ASFA TRAINING PROJECT
PHONE POLL OF CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES
2003

New Jersey

1. How would you rate your agency's staff in terms of their understanding of ASFA requirements? We are particularly interested in the level of understanding of managers, supervisors and workers. Please rate their understanding on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'comprehensive'.

a. Managers:

Comments:

b. Supervisors:

Comments:

c. Workers:

Comments:

2. Following are some of the skills that managers, supervisors and workers need to have to implement ASFA. Please rate each of these on a scale of 1-5 with one being 'do not need it' and 5 being 'extremely important.'

a. Managers:

Case work skills:

Collaborative skills

Understanding requirements of ASFA

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

Other, please specify and rate:

b. Supervisors:

Case work skills:

Communication skills:

Collaborative skills:

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

Other, please specify and rate:

c. Workers:

Case work skills:

Collaborative skills

Communication skills:

Understanding how to implement ASFA requirements

Using data effectively

Other, please specify and rate:

3. In the past year, since our earlier survey, as part of your ASFA implementation has the agency undertaken any activities in the following areas:

Agency structure? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
The agency is expanding our use of Case Practice Specialists. These positions are at a relatively high level and will be occupied by experienced staff. Individuals in these positions will exercise administrative responsibility for ensuring the quality of case work management practices, adhering to State and Federal policies and procedures, and meeting all ASFA goals of safety, permanency, and well being. The plan is to have Regionally Based Case Practice Specialists available to the District Offices on an on-going basis. The Division of Youth and Family Services is undergoing a transition that will include structural changes. The plan is to put investigation, protection and permanency services for children in a newly formed agency to be called the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Other child welfare services will be handled by the Department of Human Services Office of Children’s Services.

Internal communication? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
The Commissioner of the Department of Human Services (parent agency to the Division of Youth and Family Services) has transmitted information about the transformation of the agency and the responsibility of the State to ensure the safety and well being of the children we serve. She has sent information by way of a newsletter as well as through e-mails. The Director has also sent Division staff information by e-mail.

Performance appraisals? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Where appropriate, reference is made to activities associated with ASFA.

Job descriptions? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Some job descriptions may reflect performance standards related to ASFA outcomes.

Staff recruitment? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
The Division of Youth and Family Services has been permitted to backfill casework positions, even though the State has a hiring freeze and is facing severe budgetary problems.

Case Review? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Division staff continue to complete safety assessments, which are completed with or reviewed by various levels of supervisory staff. The Case Practice Specialists will have a role in this process. The Division has developed a web-based system, the “Permanency Tracking System,” to assist supervisory and management staff in their case review responsibility. The system captures important information and alerts supervisors to upcoming due dates and other significant events. Additional higher level reviews have been added to the case termination (case closing) process. Some reviews will be conducted on a random basis, while others will be required according to the case circumstance.

Foster/Adoptive parent recruitment? No Yes
If yes, please describe.
Recruitment staff continue to attend and have displays at special events, such as the NJ Nurses Convention, Teacher’s Convention and the National Social Workers Conference. Local events are also targeted for our participation. Foster care recruitment staff also focus on hospitals to recruit individuals to care for children with medical needs. Print, television, transit, billboard, and sports event advertising continue to be the centerpieces of the Division’s general recruitment efforts. We also have an Adoption/Foster Recruitment Van with advertising signage on the outside. The van is sent to special events and brings our recruitment message to the events. “Buddy, the Bear” is the Division’s foster care mascot. Buddy attends community-based activities and helps make the public aware of the need for foster parents. Buddy often gets media attention at events he attends.

4. In the past year, since our earlier survey, has there been any ASFA training for child welfare agency personnel? No Yes
If yes, go to question 4a. If no, go to question 4e.

a. What topics were covered in that ASFA training?

The Division continued to train caseworkers, supervisors, and casework supervisors in Structured Decision Making as part of its’ strategic plan to improve safety and expedite permanency for children. *Structured Decision Making was described in our 2002 survey document. Topics included in this training were:

• Definitions and concepts of Safety and Risk
• Intervals for Safety assessment
• Effective in-home safety plans
• Assessing cases for safety and risk

In addition, the Division continues to train all new caseworkers in the basic ASFA requirements through the “Permanency Planning in Public Child Welfare” course. This is a two-day course. Topics included in this training are:

• ASFA Timeframes
• Legal Basis for Permanency
• Core Elements of Permanency Practice
• Concurrent Planning
• Termination of Parental Right
• Writing a permanency case plan

The Division, in collaboration with Rutgers, the State University, held two symposia. The topics were:

• Interviewing on cases involving child sexual abuse and
• Emotional Abuse

Nationally known experts were the speakers at these events.

b. Which of the following did you use for the ASFA training?

Statewide training
In service training
Pre-service training
Forums on ASFA topics
Conferences on ASFA topics
Regularly scheduled meetings
Managers train people
Interactive video on ASFA topics
Teleconferences on ASFA topics
Training by federal agencies
Information is circulated about ASFA

c. Who did the training?

Agency/training unit staff
Outside consultants
State university
Court staff
Central office staff
Regional staff

d. Was the training just on ASFA or was it incorporated into other training that you provide?

Incorporated
Incorporated into new worker training
Not incorporated

Comment: All line staff and supervisory training has been adjusted to include the concepts, terminology and tools used in SDM (structured decision making).

e. In the past year, since our earlier survey, have you done any of the following ASFA training with or for the courts? No Yes
If yes, continue with this question; if no go to question 4g.

Joint training sessions
Agency and court staff have worked together on local level
Court Improvement Project events attended by agency people
ASFA workgroups of agency and court staff
Agency staff have trained court people
Agency published a newsletter for court staff
Other

f. What topics were covered in that ASFA training for the courts?

g. Have you done ASFA training with or for any of the following:

Schools
Health care providers
Mental health providers
Tribes
Other, please specify

h. What topics were covered in the ASFA training?

5. Thinking about future training for your agency and community partners (not just on ASFA), what do you think is the number one training need of:

a. Agency managers:

How to structure offices to ensure that new employees receive proper guidance and develop a comprehensive understanding of ASFA.

b. Agency supervisors:

Time management, following policy, and guiding staff in implementation of policy.

c. Agency workers:

How to better understand their role as partners with clients.

d. Foster parents:

Training on the inherent problems that children in the foster care system present, how to handle these problems, how to work with the child welfare agency as a partner in the process.

e. Schools:

Identifying children at risk and accepting the responsibility they have for the safety and well-being of these children, e.g. reporting possible child abuse, and working cooperatively with the parents and the child welfare agency.

f. Health care providers:

Identifying possible situations of and at risk of child abuse or neglect and understanding their role in protecting children and working in conjunction with DYFS.

g. Mental health providers:

Same as above and having a deeper understanding of the dynamics of child abuse and neglect. Some mental health practitioners will not or don’t know how to deal with the involuntary client. Also, training on the need to protect children superceding client privilege.

h. Tribes:

i. Courts:

Looking at their decision making responsibilities and the impact on children. Understanding the time requirements of ASFA and having more timely hearings. Taking responsibility for partnership role in service planning for families.

j. Is there any other group you think has a training need? Please specify.

6. How well does your information system support the work of managers, supervisors and workers in implementing ASFA? Please rate the support provided by your system on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being 'poor' and 5 being 'outstanding'.

a. Why did you give your system that rating?

Development of web-based systems have provided more support to the Division staff. The state has also allocated funds for the development of the SACWIS system.

b. If a rating of 1 or 2 is given, probe as to the status of the SACWIS system.

7. Please rate the importance of the following in terms of supporting staff as they implement the ASFA requirements, with 1 being 'not important' and 5 being 'crucial.'

Training

Increased communication

Resources to support staff

Collaborative efforts with stakeholders

Seeing ASFA as good casework practice

Management support

Revising policy to support ASFA

Monitoring implementation

Other, please specify and rate:

8. Do you see any of the following as barriers to your agency's support for staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA (check if 'yes')?

Lack of resources
Difficult relationship with courts
Staff turnover
Limitations or lack of computer system
Lack of understanding/knowledge about ASFA
Heavy workload
Lack of support
Difficulty meeting ASFA requirements
Large number of cases
Differences in interpretation
Lack of services
Lack of time
Lack of training
Problems caused by a county-based system
Other, please specify:

9. (For County based systems only.) Do any of the following impact your ASFA implementation (check if 'yes')?

Must be responsive to local needs
Lack of uniform practice standards
Communication can be difficult
Approach is fragmented
Limited state control
Limited resources
Other

10. At which point in the Child and Family Service Review process is your agency?

a.

Planning
     Comment: Kickoff for steering committee scheduled for 5/27/03.
Statewide assessment underway
Review complete
Working to complete the activities described in the PIP

b. Are there any significant lessons you learned from the CFSR? If so, please describe.

11. Is there anything else that you want to tell us regarding the best way to support staff as they implement the requirements of ASFA and the CFSR?

Do you mind if we call you again if we need additional information?

No
Yes

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